Conveyer.



No. 630,804. Patented Aug. 8, 1899.

E. s. DECKER. CDNVEYER.

fAppXi-ation filed Dac.'21, 1896.)

No Model.)

E. '5}. BECKER EGRVEYER.

Applicn,ti on filed Dec; 21. 1896.; No Model.)

Patented Aug. 8, I899.

2 Sheets--Sheet 2 Nrrs TAT- A'rsrrr Fries;

EDWINS. DECKER, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIeNoR ro 'rnn' s'rnni CABLE nnemnanme COMPANY,1OF MAINE.

CQNVEYER.

srnoirr'cn'rron forming part of Letters Fatent No. 630,804, dated au ust s, 1899. Application filed December 21, 1896. Serial ms. 616,416. (so model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN S. DEeKER, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Conveyers,-of which the following descriptiomin connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing lik parts. I

The so-called pan conveyer is from its construction a comparatively cheap appara tus and can be used with great facility when it is desired to convey the material from the loading point to the discharging-point without materially changing the direction of the run; but inasmuch as the pans are connect-ed at each end to the endless flexible connection;

be the latter chains, cables, or pivoted links,

a pan conveyor cannot be used when it is desired to discharge the material on the upper run, as it is termed. In the latter case a gravity-bucket conveyor is usually em ployed, a suitable tipping device being located at the discharging-point to turn the buckets to empty their contents; but such conveyors are. much more complicated in structure and My present invention has for its object the production of an endlessconveyer combining the oheapness and simplicity of the pan conveyer'with the greater 'range of usefulness and adaptability of the gravity-bucket apparatus, the constructionfbeing such that at the loading point' and along the lower run the .buckets-acta's-pans. On the upward con-' necting-run and along the upper horizontal run tothe discharge-point the buckets act as gravity-buckets, means being provided for returning-thebuckets to normalposition on'the downward ilightpreparatory to again approaching the; loading-point.

The bucket is of peculiar construction, the

loading and discharging opening being 10-.

cated at the leading end, at which endthe. bucket is permanently and pivotall'y mount'ed on the flexible connections, while-the rear closed end of'the bucket is upwardlyaiid forwardly inclined and overlaps the-support of the next bucket onv-the :lower run,-fso that e material at the loading-point cannotpass' between two adjacent buckets.

suitable flexible-connecting member is used, and if thisbe a chain the twoseries of connecting links are provided at their joints with carryingwheels,which run on suitable fixed tracks, and the leading end of each bucket is pivotally mounted at. the link-joint, so that the rear end of the bucket is perfectly free and disconnected from the links, while the distance between two adjacent link-joints or points of support for the bucketson the flexible connecting member is less than the extreme length of a bucket. As aresult when the buckets are traveling along the lower horizontal-run the rear end of each bucket rests upon and is supported on the'su'pport of the next following bucket, and assoon, as' the buckets change-"theirdirection of'ni'ove ment, traveling on the upward run, they'hang or are suspended from their upper leading ends as gravity-buckets. I

Various features of my invention will-be hereinafter fully describedin the specification and particularly pointed out in the claims. Figure 1, in side elevation, broken out at the ends and top and bottom, represents an endless conveyor .embodying. myinvention: Fig. 2 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of

two of the buckets shown in Fig. 1 in loading position. Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the buckets shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a sec;

. tioual detail taken on the line a; m, Fig. 3.

' In the embodiment of my invention illustrated herein upper and lower tracks or runs a a are suitably supported','aud the lower run may be located on one story of a-building,..while the upper run a isin a ,higher story. Each end support A of the lower run ,has rotatablymounted therein a carrying or driving wheel B, shown as a sprocket-wheel, .to receive the pivot bars or shafts d, which serve as joints connecting the links b of the chain carrying or connecting the series of, "buckets.

Like wheels B are mounted on the end supports A of the upper run a, the buck etsbeing supported between the chains and passing between the sides of the. wheels.

Referring to Fig. '3, the pivot-bars d havemounted thereon, at each. end insidethe links 1) ofthe chain, carrying-wheels c, fl'anged and adapted to travelu'pon the upper. sides of the tracks-01 runs a a", the elongated hubsc of thewheels serving to position thebuckots.

The buckets may be constructed in suits able manner, preferably-of cast-iron for the sake oroheapness lected for illustration-of parallel sides 12', connected by a longitudinally-curvedbottom b Along their lower edges-the sides-maybecurved to correspond to the curvaturep'fthe bottom I) and the upper edges of the s id es curved or inclined upwardlyifromiilie 'leaid ing end of bucket sides. I ended rearwardly a't' 7J tolfo g'in ,short' shoulders' which rest upon thegfivbt-bar d of the next-followingv bucket on -h;lowe'r run, as clearly shown "in dotted lines, 'Fig. 2, and full lines, Fig. 3, the bottom b? having its leading endfupturned to rest against ;the bar (I, as "shown most clearly having-bosses b Ihavez-herein shownir'on'platesvb as bent'or. edges andfsecured', aw-by to the sides 7) of 'the buckets-along b anidtheback b and when thebuckets are.

traveling on'the lower run the bucket-open a suitable hopper H, Fig. 1.; v

' .As thebuckets pass beneath the mouth of the hopper-chute H 0 bucket next in front, the back "being atsu'ch an angle that the material w'illbe directed into the opening or mouth of the lollowlng bucket; The lower end of the back of one bucket projects over the supporting bar or shaft (1 of the next bucket, so that none'of the material will be wasted and the loading can be carried on continuously. "if" The shape of the bucket is su ch thatlaalarge portion of its capacitymay be-utiliz'ed for the load without spilling during the transfer from loading todischarging p.oint.-

As the series of buckets pass around the sprocket-wheels at the end of the .run a and begin the vertical ascent, asat the left, Fig. 1, the buckets will gradually assume a dc? pending position, being pivotally supported from their leading ends on the joint-bars d. From the ascending run up to'near the point of discharge thebuckets are free to hang below the chains, settling intoabout the position indicated by dotted lines.

It is supposed that the load of each bucket is to be discharged into a hopper H, suitably supported below the upper run a, and for this purpose the buckets must be swung; rearardly and upwardly to tur their months and I convenience, the buckets each consisting in the instance se;

the bucket to the upwardly and. forwardly inclined back *edges "19* of the". The .sides are shown as ex.

1- will be discharged.

in Fig.v 4, thebucket'sidesg bar d? and 'ab'ut against-the wheel-hubs c,

The loading-and bucket isj. thus 10- ings will beupturned to re'ceiv'e'the load front? some of the material will impin'ge against the inclined-back of the.

as shown, the load gradually down \V-l-rd and hrin g the backs b to 'the propefv discharge-angle. To trip or turn the buckets, r. I provide a. trip-rail f, supported "on hangers 7c f below the track. a, and gradually inclined; upward, as at f, to the point 9. Each bucket has an exterior projection or roll 22 on the side'thereof, near the rear edge I)", and ass bucket approaches the discharging-point the 7 5 roll'first travels along-the straight portion if of the trip-rail to steady the bucket and prevent itfronroscillating, an auxiliary rail f resting on the top of the roll. .As the bucketmoves along, the roll 19 rides up the inclined part 80 ff, grad uallyli'ftin'g the rear end of the bucket intothe-positionshownat 50, Figsl, with its? mouth downturned, whereupon the-contents" From the point f l carry the trip rail 'as'a guard or retaining rail f to and around the wheel B and thence down- Ward along the descending run'J'at; f", said guard-rail maintaining'the buckets ,in the same relative position until theyafgai-n enter the lower run in proper loading position. r

Were it not forthe guard the buckets would approach the lower run upside down and it would be difiic-u-ltthen to right there an'd it' willbe obvious thatalong the lower-run and while ,being loaded theapparat us will operate 5 [data pan conveyor, while along -the vertical jascending run and on the upperrnnlnearly 'f'to the discharge-pointthe apparatus operates as a gravity-bucket"conveyer. I

My else construction and arrangement herein shown, for the same may be modified in varia- 'ous details without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters. Pat- 5- 1'. lnan apparatus of the class'idescribed,

:a series of connected buckets pivotally'supported at their leading ends and freeat their IO rear ends, the free rear end of each bucket resting directly upon the support of thenext bucket along the lower run, substantially described. I l i 2. An apparatus ofthejclass described;

comprising a conveyor-run having its point of discharge at a higher level than 'its'loa in g-point an endless bucket support or tra eler 'on said run; a seriesof buckets each mounted at its leading cndv uponra pivotal 720 support on said traveler, and each without connection at its load carrying end; said buckets being respectively longer than the" respective intervals between their pivotal supports, and arranged to respectively rest :25

at their free cndsupon the pivotal supports of adjacent succeeding buckets when passing the loading-point, but to depend freely from their respective supportingpivots when traversing the ascending andupper portions of the run as far as the point of discharge; and

means to positively rotate the buckets about said pivotal supports to discharge their contraits, and to insure'their proper "relative poinvention is not restricted toflthe preloo Having fully described my invention, what :05:

its

.sitierr at the loading-point, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the class-described, two parallel series of links, transverse bars. connecting the ends of the links and forming joints therefor, carrying-wheels on said bars, and a seriesof buckets pivotally mounted directly at their leading ends on said link-joints betweenthe two series of links and free at their rear ends, the free rear end of each bucket resting upon the support of the next bucket while being loaded, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of connected buckets pivotally supported at their leading ends, carrying-wheels, upper and lower tracks upon which said wheels travel, the rear end of each bucket resting on the transverse support of the next bucket on the lower run, said buckets being freely suspended at their leading ends along the upward run and to near the dischargepoint, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a series of nnected buckets pivotally supported at t eir leading ends, upper and lower V tracks, means to maintain the bucket-mouths upturnedalong the track adjacent the loading-point, to receive the load, said buckets being freely suspended at their leading ends and depending from their respective points of suspension independently each of the 0th.-

crs as they approach the discharge-point, and.

means to swing the rear ends of the buckets up to invert their mouths at the dischargepoint, substantially as described,

In an apparatus of'the class described, a series of connected buckets pivotally supported at their leading ends and free to rotate about said supports, means to liftthe'rear ends of the buckets to'invert their mouths at the discharge-point, and a guard to thereafter maintain the bucketsin such relative position to the lower run, substantially as described. 1

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a

series of buckets pivotally supported at their leading ends, each bucket having a longitu= dinally-curved bottom and a forwardly and upwardly inclined rear end, and links connecting the leading ends of the buckets and jointed thereat, the rear end of each bucket extending'over throughout its breadth and resting upon the support of the next bucket when in position to be loaded, substantially as described.

' 8. A conveyor-bucket having upright sides,

a longitudinally-curved bottom, and an upwardly and forwardly inclined plane rear end, to leave a-loading and discharge'openingbetween the leading edge of the bottom and the upper edge of the rear end substantially as described.

9. A conveyor-bucket having a longitudinally-curved bottom provided at its leading edge with a trzmsverse bearing, upright sides having straight rear edges inclined upwardly and forwardly fromthe rear edge of the bottom, and a correspondingly-inclined rear end between said edges of the sides, substantial-1 y as described.

10. A conveyer bucket having upright sides provided at their rear ends with extended shoulders, a longitudinally-curved bottom, and an inclined plane rear end, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence 0 two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN s. DECKER.

Witnesses:

Geo. W. GREGORY, JOHN C. EDWARDS. 

